Japan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
- CONSTITUTION
- May 3, 1947
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on the German model with Anglo-American influences; review of legislative acts by the Supreme Court
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and House of Representatives (Shugi-in)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (president appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Government, others appointed by the Government)
RELIGIONS
majority of Buddhists and Shintoists; minorities of Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox
From the country
- OCTOBER 7, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPANESE BAR ASSOCIATIONS SEEK DEBATE ON ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations came out in opposition to the death penalty...
OCTOBER 3, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: TOP COURT REJECTS DEATH PENALTY APPEALS OVER QUADRUPLE MURDER
the second petty bench of the Japanese Supreme Court refused to review death penalty appeals filed by
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: EX-AUM CULTIST SEEKS REVERSAL OF DEATH PENALTY IN SUPREME COURT APPEAL
the defence counsel for former senior AUM Shinrikyo cult member Tomomasa Nakagawa asked the Japan's Supreme Court No. 2 Petty Bench to overturn his death penalty for the deadly nerve gas attacks and the murder of a lawyer and his family.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER HIRAOKA CALLS FOR NATIONAL DEBATE ON DEATH PENALTY
Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka stressed the need for a national debate on whether Japan should
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: NEW JUSTICE MINISTER WON'T OK EXECUTIONS IN NEAR FUTURE
Newly appointed Japan’s Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka, speaking at his first news conference said that he had no plans to approve any executions of death-row inmates in the foreseeable future.
JULY 29, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER MAY HALT EXECUTIONS
Japanese Justice Minister Satsuki Eda indicated his intention not to authorize the execution of death row
JULY 26, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD AFTER ARSON ATTACK ON VIDEO SHOP IN OSAKA LEFT 16 DEAD
In Japan a high court upheld a lower court ruling that handed the death penalty to a man over
- JULY 12, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
COMPANY ENDS CONTRACTS WITH IRAN AFTER CRANES USED IN PUBLIC HANGINGS
A Japanese company said it has ended contracts with the Iranian government following a report that its cranes have been used for public executions.
JUNE 30, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MAN TO HANG FOR KILLING WOMAN, 21
Tatsumi Tateyama, 50, was sentenced to death by Presiding Judge Masanori Hatoko of the
- APRIL 19, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: DEATH PENALTY ON MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING 2 TO STAND
Justice Mutsuo Tahara of the Japanese Supreme Court turned down an appeal by Yukiharu Fuchigami, 42, sentenced to death for murder.
- APRIL 14, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTY
PACE URGES BELARUS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called on
- MARCH 31, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: KATO DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL FILED
Tomohiro Kato, 28, appealed his death sentence to the Tokyo High Court in Japan.